Ironically, peace negotiations between Israel and Syria broke off in 2000, when then Israeli Prime Minister and now Defense Minister Barak refused Syria's request to fully withdraw from the Golan Heights, a strategic plateau Israel seized in 1967 and annexed in 1981.

Palestinian militant group Hamas openly expressed doubts about Israel's seriousness in negotiations. In fact, it does not want to see the negotiations materialize in the first place because Israel's demand for Syria's ending support to Hamas and curbing ties with Iran would put the militants at great disadvantage.

Olmert is too weak to take the necessary steps for peace with Syria, said Hamas leader Khaled Mashaal during a visit to Iran last month.

Syria, still unconvinced by Olmert's pledge "to offer extremely painful concessions," lately signed a memorandum of understanding with Iran on the expansion of military and technical cooperation.

Iran's official IRNA news agency said the document refers to historical, ever-lasting and strategic bilateral ties and highlights the need to further bolster and broaden defense ties between the two countries.

The move has further complicated the Israel-Syria talks, which do not enjoy the blessing of Israel's main ally, the United States, although Washington said it would not stand in the way.

Political analysts say US hostility to Damascus, and to its Lebanese Hezbollah and Iranian allies, makes a Syrian-Israeli deal unlikely before President George W. Bush leaves office in January.

(Xinhua News Agency June 2, 2008)